Car truck



G. A. ANDERSON.

CAR TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-1.1922.

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GUsrAr A. ANDERsoN, or B Lin'rnvroen,Y MARYLAND, vnss'r'eivoa' ro frank fr. n.

sviurneroiv coureur, or new YORK, n. Y., a oonrorea'rron or DELAWARE.

OAR TRUCK.

Application filed February 1, 1922.

To (MZ `iti/mili it 'may Omi/cern.'

Be it known that I, GUs'rAr A. ANDnnsoN, a citizen of the United States,y residing at Baltimore city, in the Sta-te of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C ar Trucks: and l do herebyy declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri )tion of the invention, such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Hy invention relates to car trucks for railway cars and particularly to a form of flexible truck having side frame members whose longitudinal and other displacement movements from normal square position are yieldinglyv restrained and cushioned, sait side frame members being restored to normal position upon cessation of the forces producing the displacement movement. Generally stated, the present invention consists in providing a plurality of yieldable devices located within the truck and interposed between the side frame members and connecting means therefor, said devices acting in unison to resist displacement movement of the side frames and to restore the same to normal position.

rEhe principal object of my invention is to provide means associated with the spring plank and side frame members for effectively receiving and distributing the displacement movements and shocks among several yieldable devices, all of which become energized simultaneously for any angular deflection of the said truck parts from normal position, the energized yieldable devices serving to restore the parts to normal position upon cessation of the forces producing displacements.

The principal feature of the'invention by which this object accomplished consists in providing spaced spring devices about the pivotal connection of the sidel frame men-1- bers and 'ronnecting means therefor, said spring devices producing parallel forces simultaneously actuated in opposite directions about the said pivotal connection for resisting displacement movement of the side frames and restoring the sameY to normal position. The movement of the parallel forces, both of which operate at one and the same time and in opposite directions for any displacement of the -side frame members Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2', 1922.

serial No. 533,373.

from normal position, constitutes a couple in which all strain incident to such displacement upon the pivotal connections between the side frames and the spring plank is reduced to a minimum.

A further feature of the invention is to produce spaced spring devices, each of which includes a spring of relatively reduced capacity as compared with the sizeof a spring operating independently of a couple, both of said springs being based upon the same value of deflecting movement between the spring plank and side frame.

Other objects and features of my invention will hereinafter appear.

ln the drawings illustrating an embodiment of my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims:

l Figure l is a plan view partly in section of a car truck, with my improved squaring mechanism applied thereto, the several parts being shown in the angular relation they assume when passing around a curve.

Figure 2 is a detail transverse sectional viewon the line 2-2 ofFigure l.

lligure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view through a portion of one side frame and associated yieldablc couple.

y ln the drawings, l indicates transversely spa-ced side frame members which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck. Each side frame is provided at its opposite ends with the usual journal boxes receiving the journal ends of the axles 2 upon which the wheels 3 of the truck are mounted.

The side frames l are movably connected across the truck by a suitable connecting means l which may conveniently constitute a truck spring` plank. When constructed as spring plank the opposite ends of the cross connecting means 4 may eiztend'into the respective bolster openings 5 of' the side frames and 'there be pivotally connected to said. frames l. IThe pivotal connection of the spring plank with the side frames may be effected by providing each side frame centrally' ofjits vbolster opening with anr upwardly projecting pivot boss 6 which extends into a 'corresponding opening 7 of the spring plank. Sufficient clearance is provided between the sides of the spring plank 4 and the neighboring faces of the columns 8 of the ,Side frames to allow the .spring .plank to turn freely through an angle corresponding to the maximum relative longitudinal displacement from normal which it is desired that the side frames 1 shall have. As is usual in flexible trucks, the truck bolster also has sutiicient clearance from the truck columns 8 to permit it to angle horizontally without binding upon said columns when the side frames 1 are disposed longitudinally to their full extent from square relation.

The yieldable means includes spaced spring devices 9, each group of spaced spring devices constituting a couple l prefer to provide two couples or groups of spring devices, there being a couple arranged adjacent each side frame and interposed therebetween and the spring plank 41. The pivotal means movably connecting the spring plank and side frame members permits of the use of but a single couple, the displacement of either or both of the side frames serving to actuate the parallel forces of the couple in first resisting said displacement movement and consequently restoring said side frames to normal position.

lllwo spring devices are included in each couple, each spring device being arranged upon opposite sides of a line passing through the pivotal connections of the spring plank and side frame members. Springs 10-11 constitute the yieldable means l prefer to employ in each couple although other yieldable mediums may be used. The springs are arranged in pockets 12 formed in a housing secured by means of rivets 13 to the spring plank. The pockets are oppositely arranged and mayy be formed integrally with or may be joined by a web or plate section 14. Abutment walls 15 and 16 are provided at opposite ends of the housing and between said walls and the respective opposite ends of the springs 10-11 are arranged iianged followers 17 and 18.

rllhe followers 17 and 18 are loosely mounted upon a rod 19 provided at one end with a head 2O adapted to bear against the follower 18 and having its opposite end arranged to pass through the side frame member and threaded to receive a nut 21. The nut 21 bears against the outer face of the side frame member and together with the head 20 on said rodj serves to connect the side frame member and spring plank whereby movement of one or the other of said truck parts will be transmitted through the yieldable springs in either resisting displacement movement'or effecting the restoration of the truck parts to normal position.

The springs 10-11 of each spring device are simultaneously energized from the opposite ends thereof, any angular deflection of the side frame member and spring plank with respect to each other, causing the followers 17 or 18 of the respect-ive spring devices of each couple to compress the spring from its respective ends. Each end of each spring is yieldingly associated with or connected to the side frame members. the follower 18 and rod 19 connecting the inner end of the spring, and the follower 17 and more especially the projecting end 22 thereot, serving to operably connect the outer end of the spring with sait side frame by contact therewith.

A truck constructed in accordance with my present invention will rapidly respond to the restoration forces upon cessation of the forces acting to produce displacement movement. The simultaneous and substantially uniform energization of the spring devices when resisting displacement movement, produces corresponding and simultaneously acting restoration forces of a uniform nature which7 when acting as they do in couples, causes an effective distribution of said forces with practically little, if any, wear on the pivotal connections between the side frame members and spring plank. The springs used in the yieldable device may, as the result of their action in unison, be correspondingly less in size and capacity as compared with springs, the functions of which are only called into operation for certain displacement movements.

lt will be obvious that a railway track roadbed in which the cul-'vesa switch points.y or other irregularities produce angular deflection of the side frame members with respect to the spring plank. in substantially the same manner, would tend to overload or everwork certain ofthe springs where their operation is independent. ln the present case, however, all of the springs 10 11 are operated at one and the same time for any angular deflection and the work of said springs. as a result. is uniformly distributed.

Upon longitudinal or other displacement of the side frames from normal square position the spring plank assumes an angular position with respect to said side frames, as shown in Figure 1. The movement incident to this displacement shock is about the pivotal connections of the spring plank and side frame members and each soringA device of each couple acts to resist the movement. rlhe springs of each couple are therefore energized from opposite ends.y it being apparent that the nose Qt? of the follower 1T presses against the side frame and upon one side of the pivoted connection causing a compression of one of the springs 11 between said follower 17 and the opposite follower 18, both of which followers are moved toward each other by virtue of the angular position assumed by the spring plank. The adjacent spring 10 of the couple upon the opposite side of the pivotal connection is also compressed between the respective followers 17 and 18, the follower 18 being moved by the head 20 of the rod7 said follower moving away from the end wall of the spring housing or pocket. In this case the angular deflection of the spring plank also serves to move the follower 17 out of con` tact with the side frame and cause it to assist in the compression of theV spring. The respective springs of each couple are, as a result of the angular movement of the spring plank compressed from opposite ends, but the acting forces of said springs as the result of said compression are in parallel and opposite directions, so as to act as a couple 'and swing the side frame members about their pivotal connections when restoring them to normal position.

The springs 11 may be assembled within the housing under initial tension, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention the followers 17 are normally in contact with the inner face of the side frame members and the follower 18 is operably held against said springs.

In practice I pre-fer to notch the abutment walls 15 and 16 of each housing to provide ready means for eii'ecting the insertion of the several parts from the top of the housing, the spring plank projecting over far enough to insure the retaining of the springs and associated parts in proper position.

l. In a car truck, the combination with movable side Jframe members, of means connecting said side frame members, and oppositely disposed yieldable means for resisting displacement movement of the side frame members from normal position, said yieldable means including spaced spring devices interposed between the side frame members and said connecting means and adapted to be simultaneously energized when resisting displacement movement.

2. In a car truck, the combination with movable side frame members, of means connecting said side frame members, and a plurality of devices for yieldingly resisting displacement movement of the side frame members from normal position, said devices being simultaneously energized by said displacement movement :tor restoring the side frame members to normal position upon cess sation of the forces producing the displacement movement.

3. In a car truck, the combination with independently movable side frame members, of means connecting said side frame members, and a plurality of yieldable devices carried by said connecting means and arranged adj acent each side frame member for resisting displacement of said side frame members from normal position, said yieldable devices being simultaneously energized by the displacement movement for restoring the side frame members to normal position upon cessation of the forces producing the displacement movement.

4. In a car truck, the combination with longitudinally movable'side frame members, or means pivotally connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means located upon each side of the pivotal connections of the side frame members and connecting means, said yieldable means being adapted to simultaneously resist displacement movement or' the side frame members and arranged to be simultaneously energizedr for restoring the side frame members to normal position.

5. In a car truck the combination with movable side frame members, of means including a spring plank connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means for cushioning the displacement movement ot the side frame members from normal position, said yieldable means including spaced spring devices adapted to be energized at ono and the same time for any direction of angular displacement between the spring plank and side frame members.

6. In a car truck, the combination vwith longitudinal side frame members, of transverse means pivotally connecting said side frame members for permitting displacement movement of the side frame members from normal position, and yieldable means arranged transversely ot the truck upon each side of a line passing through said pivotal connecting means, said yieldable means being adapted to be energized for any direction of angular displacement between said transverse connecting means and side frame members.

7. In a car truck, the combination with side frame members, of means movably connecting said side iframe members for permitting displacement movement thereof from normal position, and means for restoring said side frame members to normal position, said means including spring devices interposed between the side trame members and said connecting means and adapted to operate simultaneously.

8. In a car truck, the combination with side frame members. ot means movably connecting s side frame members, and yieldable means including 'spring having cach end thereof connected with the side frame member 'for resisting displacement movement in any angular direction, said spring becoming energized by the displacement movement and serving to restore the side ,trame members to normal position.

9. In a car truck, the combination with side frame members,` of transversely extending means for pivotally connecting said side i'rame members, and yieldable means including a spring located outside of a line passing through the said pivotal connection of the side frame members and having each end thereof interconnected with at least one of the side frame members for resisting displacement movement in any angular direction, said spring serving to restore the side trame members to normal position.

10. ln a car truck, the combination with side trame members, of transversely entending means 1to1' pivotally connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means including a horizontally disposed spring` mounted on the said transversely extending connecting means and having each end thereof connected with at least one of the side vtrame members for cushioning displacement movement in any angular direction, said spring also serving to restore the side trame members to normal position.

11. ln a car truck the combination with independently movable side frame members, of means connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means for resisting displacement movement of said side frame members from normal position, said yieldable means including a spring, followers provided at each end of said spring and means including the side frame member for actuatingone or the other ol? said followers for energizing the spring.

12. ln a car truck, the combination with independently movable side trame members, of means connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means for resisting displacement movement of said side frame members from normal position, said yieldable means including a spring, a pocket formed with opposite abutment walls, and `followers interposed between said abutment walls and the respective opposite ends of said spring, each of said followers being operably connected with the side frame member.

13. ln a car truck, the combination with independently movable side frame members, of means connecting said side 'rame members, and yieldable means for resisting displacement movement of said side frame members from normal position, said yieldable means including a spring and housing therefor, tollowers arranged at the respective ends oit said spring, one of said followers engaging the side frame members and a rod connecting the other ci? said followers to said side tra-me member.

14. ln a car truclr, the combination with movable side frame members, of means connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means for resisting displacement movement or the side frame members from normal position, said yieldable means including a plurality of spring devices energized by said displacement movement and acting massa as a couple for restoring the side frame members and said connecting means to normal position.

15. ln a car truck, the combination with movable side Ytrame members, of means connecting said side frame members, and yieldable means interposed between said connecting means and side framev members, said ,vieldable means acting as a couple in cushioning the displacement movement of the side iframe member from normal position and similarly acting in restoring the side :trame members and connecting means to normal position,

16. ln a car truck, the combination with movable side frame members, of means connecting said side trame members, and yieldable means interposed between said connecting means and side frame members, said yieldable means being energized by the displacement movement of said side iframe members for action as a couple in restoring the said truck parts to normal position.

17. ln a car truck, the combination with movable Vside Y frame members, Yofrmeans Y pivotally connecting said side frame members together, and means `for maintaining said side frame members and connecting means in normal square position, said means including a pair of springdevices acting about the aforesaid pivotal connection as a couple.

18. ln a car truck, the combination with movable. side frame membersyof means pivotally connecting said side frame members together, and means including actuating` devices operating as a couple for maintaining said side frame members and connecting means in normal square position.

19. ln a car truck, the combination with movable side frame members, of means pivotally connecting said side frame members together, and truck squaring means interposed between the side frame members and pivotal. connecting means, said means involving parallel forces simultaneously actuated in opposite directions about said pivotal connecting means.

20. ln a car truclr, the combination withv movable side frame members, of means pivotally connecting said side frame members togetl'ier, and means involving devices l operable in parallel about the said pivotal connecting means tor maintaining the side frame members in normal position.

ln testimony whereof l amx my signature.

GUS-TAF A. ANDERSON. 

